Next time you get a new card from your bank, don't be surprised if it has a keypad and an LCD on it.

Meet MasterCard's new "Display Card," which basically combines the usual credit/debit or ATM card with an authentication token. The authentication portion features a touch-sensitive keypad and LCD display -- hence the name "Display Card" -- for reflecting a one-time password (OTP).

Yet, according to MasterCard, the Display Card looks and functions almost exactly like a regular credit, debit, or ATM card.

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Currently, many banks issue a separate authentication token for online banking services, particularly high-risk transactions, such as payments or transfers above a certain amount, adding payees, or changing personal details. The new 2-in-1 cards would therefore eliminate the hassle of carrying a separate authentication device -- good news for people who carry their whole lives in their pockets.

Besides generating OTPs, the Display Card may in the future be able to show your available credit balance, reward points, or even recent transactions.

Along with some European banks, only Standard Chartered has announced the Display Card for some of its customers in Singapore for now.

About the author

Jacqueline Seng is a presenter/writer for CNET Asia, focusing on mobile phones. Her induction into the world of IT involved typing out stories on a computer in kindergarten -- not that much has changed.
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